The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision on Friday that struck down the Biden administration’s plan to forgive student debt for more than 43-million American borrowers. U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-St. Louis) is blasting the ruling, calling for expanding the court. She tweeted on Friday that “Student debt cancellation is a racial justice issue — Black and brown people are disproportionately harmed by the student debt crisis. Inaction is not an option.” One of Congresswoman Bush’s colleagues, U-S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-St. Elizabeth), disagrees with her call to expand the court. Congressman Luetkemeyer tells 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that the U.S. Supreme Court made the correct decision:
Missouri execution is scheduled for tonight
Barring intervention from the U.S. Supreme Court or a federal judge, a convicted Missouri murderer will be executed tonight in southeast Missouri’s Bonne Terre.
Governor Mike Parson (R) has rejected a clemency request for convicted murderer Leonard Taylor, clearing the way for tonight’s scheduled execution to proceed. The governor says Taylor brutally murdered his girlfriend Angela Rowe and her three children, ages ten, six and five. The murders happened in 2004 in Jennings, which is a St. Louis suburb.
“The evidence shows Taylor committed these atrocities and a jury found him guilty,” Governor Parson says.
The governor says each victim was shot execution-style in the head and elsewhere. The governor also says Taylor has two prior forcible rape convictions, “underscoring a history of violent acts against women.”
There are supporters of Taylor who believe that he is innocent. U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-St. Louis) has called on Governor Parson to stop the execution, citing what she calls evidence of Taylor’s innocence.
“The death penalty is never justice, it’s always about who has institutional power and who doesn’t,” Congresswoman Bush tweeted Monday.
Convicted killer executed in Missouri; St. Louis congresswoman calls for ending capitol punishment
A convicted murderer who raped and killed a woman in 2003 in eastern Missouri’s Earth City has been executed.
Amber McLaughlin, who’s a transgender woman, was known as Scott McLaughlin in 2003. McLaughlin was sentenced to death for raping and killing 45-year-old Beverly Guenther as she left work in Earth City. Prosecutors say Guenther was stabbed to death with a steak knife.
The Associated Press reports it’s believed to be the first execution of a transgender woman in the United States.
Governor Mike Parson (R) rejected a clemency request, saying McLaughlin’s conviction and sentence received multiple examinations. The governor says the victim was stalked and terrorized before the murder.
McLaughlin was executed by lethal injection Tuesday night at the state’s maximum-security prison in Bonne Terre. U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-St. Louis) called for the governor to block the execution, describing the death penalty as cruel and inhumane.
Parson says tonight’s execution will proceed at southeast Missouri prison
Missouri’s governor says the state will carry out Tuesday evening’s execution of a convicted murderer.
Scott McLaughlin was sentenced to death for raping and killing 45-year-old Beverly Guenther as she left work in Earth City in November 2003. Scott McLaughlin is now Amber McLaughlin, a transgender woman. Governor Mike Parson says McLaughlin’s conviction and sentence remains after multiple, thorough examinations of Missouri law.
“McLaughlin stalked, raped and murdered Ms. Guenther. McLaughlin is a violent criminal. Ms. Guenther’s family and loved ones deserve peace,” the governor says in part, in a written statement.
Governor Parson says Guenther was terrorized for months, before the killing.
U.S. Reps. Cori Bush (D-St. Louis) and Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City) had called on the governor to block the execution. Congresswoman Bush describes the death penalty as cruel, barbaric and inhumane.
The Associated Press (AP) says more than 1,500 people have been executed nationwide since 1977, and that there’s never been a case of an openly transgender inmate being executed.
Missouri executes convicted murderer; St. Louis congresswoman blasts governor for denying clemency
A convicted murderer from St. Louis County has been executed by lethal injection, 17 years after he killed a Kirkwood police sergeant. Kevin Johnson was executed Tuesday evening at the state’s maximum-security prison in southeast Missouri’s Bonne Terre.
Governor Mike Parson rejected a clemency request from Johnson’s attorneys, saying that Johnson “stole the life of Sergeant William McEntee and left a family grieving, a wife widowed and children fatherless.” The governor describes the 2005 murder as horrendous. Governor Parson says Johnson shot Sergeant McEntee five times before the officer crawled out of the vehicle on his hands and knees. Governor Parson says Johnson then shot Sergeant McEntee twice in the head.
The Missouri Supreme Court issued a 5-2 decision on Monday, denying a motion to stay the execution. Johnson’s attorneys did not argue that their client was innocent. They say Johnson was given the death penalty in part because he was an African-American.
U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-St. Louis) is blasting the execution, saying systemic racism tainted his conviction. Congresswoman Bush tweeted last night that “Missouri failed Kevin Johnson.” She also criticized the governor for rejecting Johnson’s clemency request.